Tornadoes · United States · Texas · 2019
EF0 tornado, Elliott, Texas, May 8, 2019
This EF0 tornado ran 0.3 miles across Robertson County on May 8, 2019, touching down at 1:29 PM CDT and reaching 100 yards wide. It killed nobody, and did $10,000 of property damage.
The rating scale
Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.
EF065 to 85 mphthis tornado
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
EF186 to 110 mph
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
EF2111 to 135 mph
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
EF3136 to 165 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
EF4166 to 200 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
EF5over 200 mph
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.
The record
- Rating
- EF0
- Date
- May 8, 2019
- Touchdown
- 1:29 PM CDT (18:29 UTC)
- Lifted
- 1:30 PM CDT (18:30 UTC)
- On the ground
- 1 minutes
- Path length
- 0.3 miles (0.4 km)
- Path width
- 100 yards (91 m)
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $10,000
- County
- Robertson County
- Touchdown point
- 30.954, -96.568
- Lift-off point
- 30.953, -96.564
- Record number
- 1905081229-01
The damage survey
5 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS FWD, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF0. The highest wind the damage implies is 85 mph.
- Metal RV cover was knocked down and beams were bent at the ground. Parts of metal roof were blown off into field.
- Straightline winds lifted the porch covering and peeled the metal and wood roof off a log-cabin home. A large tree was also damaged on the property
- Several scattered trees were uprooted, snapped or experienced some limb damage along Harless Road.
Survey points are preliminary and are the raw material the published rating was built from. Source: NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit.
What the Weather Service recorded
A complex of thunderstorms produced isolated areas of flash flooding Wednesday morning as it moved in from the northwest. Storms weakened around midday, but redeveloped across the southern counties Wednesday afternoon. One of these storms produced a brief tornado in the Elliott area of Robertson County.
A weak tornado occurred in the Elliot area within a larger area of straightline winds. The tornado damaged a large metal barn and trees along a quarter mile path to the east. Additional damage in the area was determined to be straightline winds associated with a bowing segment and/or a rear flank downdraft. The maximum winds of the tornado were estimated at 85 mph.
From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.
The warnings
17 minutes of warning. NWS FWD issued a tornado warning for this county at 18:12 UTC, 17 minutes before the tornado touched down, in force until 18:45 UTC.
The county was under a severe thunderstorm watch, issued at 17:58 UTC and running to 20:40 UTC.
| Issued (UTC) | Expired | Product | Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17:58 UTC | 20:40 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | FWD |
| 18:07 UTC | 19:00 UTC | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FWD |
| 18:12 UTC | 18:45 UTC | Tornado Warning | FWD |
| 18:44 UTC | 19:05 UTC | Tornado Warning | FWD |
Every warning and watch covering the touchdown point that day, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service products. Lead time is measured from the issue of the warning in force to the touchdown time in the database, both of which were recorded to the minute by different people.
The forecast that day
The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Slight Risk, with a 0.05 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 16:49 UTC.
SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the tornado touched down, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Fort Worth, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the tornado touched down at May 8, 1:19 PM CDT, 10 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 8, 1:19 PM CDT, 10 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 119 PM CDT Wed May 8 2019 .AVIATION... /18Z TAFs/ Winds became easterly and with gusts up to 30 knots just behind the back edge of the line of thunderstorms. KAFW and KFTW have since become variable, and this trend is expected to continue at KDFW, KDAL, and KGKY as the system continues to track eastward. Winds should slowly shift to southerly or southeasterly by the late afternoon hours. The blanket of cloud cover associated with the storm system will continue to move east this afternoon with VFR prevailing and maybe a few low clouds. Abundant moisture will remain in the lower levels of the atmosphere, and high res guidance is in agreement on stratus returning by 08-09Z at ACT and 11-12Z at the Metroplex sites. There is a possibility for IFR ceilings, but at this time only prevailed MVFR ceilings with a mention of scattered IFR ceilings. Some guidance has hinted some scattered showers developing north and west of the Metroplex TAF sites Thursday morning, but confidence is too low to mention with this issuance. We'll continue to monitor guidance and adjust as needed in subsequent TAF issuances. A cold front is expected to slide across the Metroplex sites by mid morning and by early afternoon at ACT. VFR should prevail by the early afternoon hours across the TAF sites. Garcia && .MESOSCALE UPDATE... /Issued 1008 AM CDT Wed May 8 2019/ A moist and unstable airmass remains in place south of an outflow boundary currently extending along a line from Athens to Hillsboro to Goldthwaite. A line of thunderstorms propagating eastward along and south of this boundary will continue to have the potential to produce damaging wind gusts and large hail. Will need to monitor the position of the warm sector, as a northward shift would extend the severe storm potential a little farther north, but at this time it looks like ongoing convection along the I-20 corridor will likely keep the surface boundary near its current position through early afternoon. In addition to the hail and wind threat, 0-1 KM storm-relative helicity values between 150 and 200 m^2/s^2 when combined with surface-based CAPE around 2000 J/KG indicates that at least a low-end tornado threat will exist, which would likely be of the QLCS variety along the ongoing squall line if one were to occur. North of the outflow, the primary concern will be localized flash flooding due to west-east training of thunderstorms. Occasional rainfall rates around 2 inches per hour can be expected along and north of the surface boundary, putting the near-term threat for additional flooding immediately south of the I-20 corridor. These storms will continue to shift east with time, extending the heavy rain threat eastward from Johnson and Ellis Counties to Kaufman, Henderson and Van Zandt Counties between now and early afternoon. As far as the rest of the forecast, POPs have been adjusted and the high temperature forecast has been lowered based on recent trends. 30/Bishop && .SHORT TERM... /Issued 239 AM CDT Wed May 8 2019/ /Today and Tonight/ A quasi linear convective system (QLCS), currently forming just off the Caprock, will move east across the region today, bringing a potential for damaging winds, hail and even a brief tornado or two. Periods of heavy rainfall will also be likely which may result in localized flooding. However, the progressive nature of the line should keep the threat of widespread flash flooding relatively low. The convective allowing models are falling into fairly close agreement with regards to timing and placement of the main line with storms reaching the western zones before sunrise, the I-35 corridor between 8 AM and 10 AM, and the eastern zones late morning through early afternoon. A few strong to severe storms will also affect the western zones prior to the arrival of the main line with damaging winds the primary hazard. These leading storms should weaken as they reach the US 281 corridor when they encounter stronger convective inhibition. Once the main line of storms moves through, clouds should begin to decrease from west to east, allowing temperatures to warm into the upper 70s and lower 80s. The only exception will be the eastern zones where a later arrival of storms and extensive cloud cover will keep high temperatures in the middle 70s. Storm chances will linger this evening, mainly in the east. The remainder of the forecast area will likely remain dry through the overnight hours until a cold front arrives across the northwest zones in the predawn hours Thursday. Overnight temperatures will range from the middle 50s across the northwest to the lower 70s in the southeast zones. .LONG TERM... /Thursday through Tuesday/ A cold front will slide across North Texas Thursday morning as a shortwave lifts across Central Plains. Initially the front will come through dry with limited moisture to work with after today's storms. However, some thunderstorms should begin to fire in the afternoon as the front moves into the southern zones where moisture and instability will be much more favorable. It looks like the best severe threat will be just southeast of the forecast area. Weak cold air advection and some lingering clouds behind the cold front will keep temperatures below seasonal normals with highs generally in the upper 60s and 70s. The only exception will be some lower 80s across the southeast zones. Thunderstorms will temporarily move south of the forecast area Thursday evening, but may develop across the southern zones again overnight Thursday/Friday morning as moist air is lifted over the shallow wedge of drier/more dense air near the surface. Confidence is low in exactly how far south the cold front will move Thursday night, therefore, we will keep PoPs low for now. The cooler and drier airmass will remain largely unchanged Friday with dry northeasterly surface flow. The combination of low level cold air advection and extensive high clouds associated with a deepening upper low on the West Coast will result in a cool day for May with morning lows in the upper 40s and 50s and highs mainly in the middle and upper 60s. Rain and thunderstorm chances will slowly increase Friday night and Saturday as a few northeastward moving shortwaves traverse the region. The best moisture will remain across Central Texas which is where we will keep the highest PoPs. It will remain cool with morning lows Saturday generally in the 50s and highs from the mid 60s to the lower 70s. The upper low will begin to lift northeast across the Desert Southwest Sunday/Sunday night, resulting in brief ridging aloft over North and Central Texas. Decreasing clouds and waning cold air advection will result in warmer temperatures Sunday with highs in the 70s and lows Sunday night in the mid and upper 50s. Low level moisture will finally return to the region Monday through Tuesday as the low pressure system begins to weaken and lift northeast towards the Central Plains. The increase in moisture and large scale lift will result in scattered showers and thunderstorms with the best chances across the southwestern half of the forecast area. The moisture increase will also bring more seasonable temperatures with lows in the upper 50s and 60s and highs in the upper 70s and lower 80s. 79 && .LONG TERM... /Issued 1008 AM CDT Wed May 8 2019/ /Thursday through Tuesday/ A cold front will slide across North Texas Thursday morning as a shortwave lifts across Central Plains. Initially the front will come through dry with limited moisture to work with after today's storms. However, some thunderstorms should begin to fire in the afternoon as the front moves into the southern zones where moisture and instability will be much more favorable. It looks like the best severe threat will be just southeast of the forecast area. Weak cold air advection and some lingering clouds behind the cold front will keep temperatures below seasonal normals with highs generally in the upper 60s and 70s. The only exception will be some lower 80s across the southeast zones. Thunderstorms will temporarily move south of the forecast area Thursday evening, but may develop across the southern zones again overnight Thursday/Friday morning as moist air is lifted over the shallow wedge of drier/more dense air near the surface. Confidence is low in exactly how far south the cold front will move Thursday night, therefore, we will keep PoPs low for now. The cooler and drier airmass will remain largely unchanged Friday with dry northeasterly surface flow. The combination of low level cold air advection and extensive high clouds associated with a deepening upper low on the West Coast will result in a cool day for May with morning lows in the upper 40s and 50s and highs mainly in the middle and upper 60s. Rain and thunderstorm chances will slowly increase Friday night and Saturday as a few northeastward moving shortwaves traverse the region. The best moisture will remain across Central Texas which is where we will keep the highest PoPs. It will remain cool with morning lows Saturday generally in the 50s and highs from the mid 60s to the lower 70s. The upper low will begin to lift northeast across the Desert Southwest Sunday/Sunday night, resulting in brief ridging aloft over North and Central Texas. Decreasing clouds and waning cold air advection will result in warmer temperatures Sunday with highs in the 70s and lows Sunday night in the mid and upper 50s. Low level moisture will finally return to the region Monday through Tuesday as the low pressure system begins to weaken and lift northeast towards the Central Plains. The increase in moisture and large scale lift will result in scattered showers and thunderstorms with the best chances across the southwestern half of the forecast area. The moisture increase will also bring more seasonable temperatures with lows in the upper 50s and 60s and highs in the upper 70s and lower 80s. 79 && .LONG TERM... /Issued 728 AM CDT Wed May 8 2019/ /Thursday through Tuesday/ A cold front will slide across North Texas Thursday morning as a shortwave lifts across Central Plains. Initially the front will come through dry with limited moisture to work with after today's storms. However, some thunderstorms should begin to fire in the afternoon as the front moves into the southern zones where moisture and instability will be much more favorable. It looks like the best severe threat will be just southeast of the forecast area. Weak cold air advection and some lingering clouds behind the cold front will keep temperatures below seasonal normals with highs generally in the upper 60s and 70s. The only exception will be some lower 80s across the southeast zones. Thunderstorms will temporarily move south of the forecast area Thursday evening, but may develop across the southern zones again overnight Thursday/Friday morning as moist air is lifted over the shallow wedge of drier/more dense air near the surface. Confidence is low in exactly how far south the cold front will move Thursday night, therefore, we will keep PoPs low for now. The cooler and drier airmass will remain largely unchanged Friday with dry northeasterly surface flow. The combination of low level cold air advection and extensive high clouds associated with a deepening upper low on the West Coast will result in a cool day for May with morning lows in the upper 40s and 50s and highs mainly in the middle and upper 60s. Rain and thunderstorm chances will slowly increase Friday night and Saturday as a few northeastward moving shortwaves traverse the region. The best moisture will remain across Central Texas which is where we will keep the highest PoPs. It will remain cool with morning lows Saturday generally in the 50s and highs from the mid 60s to the lower 70s. The upper low will begin to lift northeast across the Desert Southwest Sunday/Sunday night, resulting in brief ridging aloft over North and Central Texas. Decreasing clouds and waning cold air advection will result in warmer temperatures Sunday with highs in the 70s and lows Sunday night in the mid and upper 50s. Low level moisture will finally return to the region Monday through Tuesday as the low pressure system begins to weaken and lift northeast towards the Central Plains. The increase in moisture and large scale lift will result in scattered showers and thunderstorms with the best chances across the southwestern half of the forecast area. The moisture increase will also bring more seasonable temperatures with lows in the upper 50s and 60s and highs in the upper 70s and lower 80s. 79 && .LONG TERM... /Issued 239 AM CDT Wed May 8 2019/ /Thursday through Tuesday/ A cold front will slide across North Texas Thursday morning as a shortwave lifts across Central Plains. Initially the front will come through dry with limited moisture to work with after today's storms. However, some thunderstorms should begin to fire in the afternoon as the front moves into the southern zones where moisture and instability will be much more favorable. It looks like the best severe threat will be just southeast of the forecast area. Weak cold air advection and some lingering clouds behind the cold front will keep temperatures below seasonal normals with highs generally in the upper 60s and 70s. The only exception will be some lower 80s across the southeast zones. Thunderstorms will temporarily move south of the forecast area Thursday evening, but may develop across the southern zones again overnight Thursday/Friday morning as moist air is lifted over the shallow wedge of drier/more dense air near the surface. Confidence is low in exactly how far south the cold front will move Thursday night, therefore, we will keep PoPs low for now. The cooler and drier airmass will remain largely unchanged Friday with dry northeasterly surface flow. The combination of low level cold air advection and extensive high clouds associated with a deepening upper low on the West Coast will result in a cool day for May with morning lows in the upper 40s and 50s and highs mainly in the middle and upper 60s. Rain and thunderstorm chances will slowly increase Friday night and Saturday as a few northeastward moving shortwaves traverse the region. The best moisture will remain across Central Texas which is where we will keep the highest PoPs. It will remain cool with morning lows Saturday generally in the 50s and highs from the mid 60s to the lower 70s. The upper low will begin to lift northeast across the Desert Southwest Sunday/Sunday night, resulting in brief ridging aloft over North and Central Texas. Decreasing clouds and waning cold air advection will result in warmer temperatures Sunday with highs in the 70s and lows Sunday night in the mid and upper 50s. Low level moisture will finally return to the region Monday through Tuesday as the low pressure system begins to weaken and lift northeast towards the Central Plains. The increase in moisture and large scale lift will result in scattered showers and thunderstorms with the best chances across the southwestern half of the forecast area. The moisture increase will also bring more seasonable temperatures with lows in the upper 50s and 60s and highs in the upper 70s and lower 80s. 79 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Dallas-Ft. Worth 76 67 77 53 67 / 100 20 5 10 30 Waco 76 70 79 53 65 / 80 20 10 50 60 Paris 75 67 77 52 68 / 90 60 20 10 30 Denton 76 64 73 50 67 / 100 10 5 10 20 McKinney 75 66 76 52 67 / 90 30 5 10 30 Dallas 76 67 78 54 68 / 90 20 5 20 30 Terrell 75 68 80 54 67 / 90 40 10 30 50 Corsicana 75 71 80 54 66 / 80 50 10 50 60 Temple 77 70 81 54 65 / 80 20 20 60 60 Mineral Wells 79 61 72 48 66 / 100 5 5 10 20 && .FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... None. && 22/30
Hazardous weather outlook, May 8, 3:41 AM CDT, 9 hours 48 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 341 AM CDT Wed May 8 2019 TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-090845- Montague-Cooke-Grayson-Fannin-Lamar-Young-Jack-Wise-Denton-Collin- Hunt-Delta-Hopkins-Stephens-Palo Pinto-Parker-Tarrant-Dallas- Rockwall-Kaufman-Van Zandt-Rains-Eastland-Erath-Hood-Somervell- Johnson-Ellis-Henderson-Comanche-Mills-Hamilton-Bosque-Hill-Navarro- Freestone-Anderson-Lampasas-Coryell-Bell-McLennan-Falls-Limestone- Leon-Milam-Robertson- 341 AM CDT Wed May 8 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for North and Central Texas. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. A line of thunderstorms will move across the region today, bringing a chance for damaging winds, large hail and heavy rainfall along with localized flooding. A tornado or two cannot be ruled out. Storms will affect locations generally west of the I-35 corridor this morning and the remainder of the region this afternoon and early evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected Thursday through Saturday as well as Monday and Tuesday of next week. Localized flooding will be the main hazard, although a few storms could produce small hail. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be requested generally west of the I-35 corridor this morning and east of I-35 this afternoon.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 8, 7:39 AM CDT, 5 hours 50 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
739 AM CDT Wed May 8 2019
TXZ145-081315-
Hill TX-
739 AM CDT Wed May 8 2019
...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...
At 738 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Whitney, or 10 miles west of Hillsboro, moving northeast at 40 mph.
Half inch hail will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Hillsboro, Whitney, Itasca and Carl's Corner.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Seek
a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle.
&&
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 100 PM CDT for
central Texas.
LAT...LON 3191 9725 3197 9733 3200 9736 3205 9739
3226 9710 3226 9709 3220 9704 3206 9694
3206 9692 3201 9692
TIME...MOT...LOC 1238Z 233DEG 34KT 3200 9729
SanchezLocal storm report, May 8, 9:44 AM CDT, 3 hours 45 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
944 AM CDT WED MAY 08 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0931 AM FLASH FLOOD FORT WORTH 32.75N 97.34W
05/08/2019 TARRANT TX EMERGENCY MNGR
CITY OF FORT WORTH EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT REPORTING
MULTIPLE HIGH-WATER RESCUES IN SOUTHWEST FORT WORTH.Local storm report, May 8, 11:21 AM CDT, 2 hours 8 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
1121 AM CDT WED MAY 08 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1119 AM FLASH FLOOD 1 SE KAUFMAN 32.57N 96.31W
05/08/2019 KAUFMAN TX EMERGENCY MNGR
NUMEROUS COUNTY ROADS CLOSED ACROSS THE COUNTY. THE
INTERSECTION OF TX 34 AND US 175 IN KAUFMAN IS CLOSED DUE
TO WATER.Special weather statement, May 8, 12:25 PM CDT, 1 hour 4 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
1225 PM CDT Wed May 8 2019
TXZ158-160-174-081800-
Falls TX-Milam TX-Bell TX-
1225 PM CDT Wed May 8 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN MILAM...SOUTHEASTERN
BELL AND SOUTHWESTERN FALLS COUNTIES UNTIL 100 PM CDT...
At 1224 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles north of Rogers, or 10 miles southeast of Temple, moving east
at 20 mph.
Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Rosebud, Rogers and Buckholts.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Heavy rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
&&
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 100 PM CDT for
central Texas.
LAT...LON 3116 9729 3118 9692 3090 9690 3089 9707
3089 9708 3088 9727
TIME...MOT...LOC 1724Z 266DEG 17KT 3103 9720
JLDunnSpecial weather statement, May 8, 12:36 PM CDT, 53 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Fort Worth TX
1236 PM CDT Wed May 8 2019
TXZ122-135-081800-
Van Zandt TX-Henderson TX-
1236 PM CDT Wed May 8 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN VAN ZANDT AND
NORTHEASTERN HENDERSON COUNTIES UNTIL 100 PM CDT...
At 1236 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Edom, or 17 miles southeast of Canton, moving northeast at 35 mph.
Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Chandler, Brownsboro and Edom.
LAT...LON 3229 9545 3229 9572 3248 9572 3250 9560
3248 9560 3241 9551 3239 9550 3237 9547
3237 9546 3234 9545 3233 9546
TIME...MOT...LOC 1736Z 240DEG 32KT 3242 9561
JLDunnSpecial weather statement, May 8, 12:56 PM CDT, 33 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 1256 PM CDT Wed May 8 2019 TXZ174-081830- Milam TX- 1256 PM CDT Wed May 8 2019 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN MILAM COUNTY UNTIL 130 PM CDT... At 1255 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Thorndale, or 12 miles southwest of Rockdale, moving northeast at 40 mph. Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Rockdale, Thorndale and Milano. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm, and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. && A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 100 PM CDT for central Texas. LAT...LON 3065 9723 3084 9680 3068 9671 3046 9716 TIME...MOT...LOC 1755Z 239DEG 36KT 3054 9716 Hernandez
The air that afternoon
The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.
Fort Worth, TX (KFWD), 12:00Z
6.5 hours before the tornado, 220 km from the path. May 8, 2019.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 83 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -555 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 11 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 671 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 53 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 49 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 734 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 882 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.1
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 3.5 K/km
Fort Worth, TX (KFWD), 00:00Z
5.5 hours after it, 220 km from the path. May 9, 2019.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -72835 J/kg
- Surface CAPE
- 158 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 828 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 53 kt
- 0-1 km bulk shear
- 18 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 133 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 169 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
- 0-3 km lapse rate
- 4.4 K/km
The surface observations
Hearne (LHB), 11 km from the path, in the two hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Temp (°F) | Dew point (°F) | Wind | Gust (kt) | Pressure (mb) | Weather |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16:35 UTC | 75.2 | 72.5 | 140° 11 kt | 17 | 1007.1 | |
| 16:55 UTC | 75.6 | 72.7 | 130° 11 kt | 17 | 1007.5 | VCTS |
| 17:15 UTC | 74.5 | 72.5 | 130° 11 kt | 18 | 1007.5 | |
| 17:35 UTC | 74 | 72.5 | 130° 6 kt | 1006.8 | ||
| 17:55 UTC | 74 | 72.5 | 130° 9 kt | 15 | 1006.4 | -TSRA |
| 18:15 UTC | 73.6 | 72.5 | 120° 8 kt | 1006.8 | -VCTSRA | |
| 18:35 UTC | 66.4 | 65.8 | 290° 6 kt | 33 | 1009.5 | +TSRA |
| 18:55 UTC | 64.6 | 64.6 | 30° 12 kt | 23 | 1008.1 | +TSRA |
| 19:15 UTC | 64.4 | 64.4 | 80° 4 kt | 1007.5 | -TSRA | |
| 19:35 UTC | 64.4 | 64.4 | 50° 6 kt | 1006.4 | -TSRA | |
| 19:55 UTC | 64.4 | 64.4 | 100° 6 kt | 1007.5 | -TSRA | |
| 20:15 UTC | 65 | 65 | 90° 5 kt | 1006.8 | -VCTSRA |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.
The radar
The Ft Hood radar (KGRK), 82 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 18:29 UTC.
Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track
Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.
What was reported nearby
Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.
| Time (UTC) | Report | Where | County | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:32 UTC | TSTM WND DMG | Elliott | Robertson, TX | TREES DOWN IN ELLIOTT ON U.S. HIGHWAY 79. POSSIBLE TORNADO. TIME ESTIMATED VIA RADAR. |
| 19:13 UTC | TORNADO | 3 Nnw Chances Store | Brazos, TX | ROTATING WALL CLOUD AND ROPE TORNADO. |
| 19:23 UTC | TORNADO | 2 Wsw Spear | Brazos, TX | TORNADO SIGHTED NEAR EASTERWOOD AIRPORT. |
From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.
This ground now
The live radar over the trackEvery 2019 tornado in TexasEvery tornado in Texas since 1950Warnings in force in Texas nowThe forecast where you are
The other tornadoes of May 8, 2019
17 more were confirmed in the United States that day.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 8 | 2:21 PM CDT | EF0 | Brazos, TX | 0.9 | 15 | |||
| May 8 | 2:36 PM CDT | EF1 | Harrison, TX | 7.4 | 300 | $125,000 | ||
| May 8 | 3:19 PM CDT | EF1 | Caddo Parish, TX to LA | 2.6 | 200 | $60,000 | ||
| May 8 | 3:33 PM CDT | EF1 | De Soto Parish, LA | 1.8 | 200 | $20,000 | ||
| May 8 | 3:44 PM CDT | EF1 | De Soto Parish, LA | 13.5 | 500 | $200,000 | ||
| May 8 | 3:53 PM CDT | EF1 | De Soto Parish, LA | 3.9 | 80 | $10,000 | ||
| May 8 | 5:15 PM CDT | EF1 | Natchitoches Parish, LA | 3.0 | 250 | |||
| May 8 | 5:22 PM CDT | EF1 | Winn Parish, LA | 2.9 | 250 | |||
| May 8 | 5:35 PM CDT | EF1 | Jackson Parish, LA | 0.4 | 70 | |||
| May 8 | 5:35 PM CDT | EF1 | Jackson Parish, LA | 7.4 | 100 | $60,000 | ||
| May 8 | 5:42 PM CDT | EF1 | Jackson Parish, LA | 4.0 | 350 | $1.0 million | ||
| May 8 | 5:47 PM CDT | EF1 | Lincoln Parish, LA | 5.4 | 80 | $175,000 | ||
| May 8 | 6:18 PM CDT | EF1 | Jefferson, AR | 0.3 | 100 | 9 | $200,000 | |
| May 8 | 6:36 PM CDT | EF1 | Richland Parish, LA | 8.9 | 200 | $180,000 | ||
| May 8 | 6:36 PM CDT | EF1 | Ouachita Parish, LA | 4.3 | 75 | |||
| May 8 | 5:45 PM MDT | EF0 | Lincoln, NM | 0.0 | 20 | |||
| May 8 | 6:52 PM CDT | EF1 | Richland Parish, LA | 7.9 | 300 | $50,000 |
What this means
Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.
Sources
NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.